Westwood, California Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: STR Status in Westwood, CA

Yes, short-term rentals are allowed in Westwood, CA, but only under strict regulatory conditions. Westwood is explicitly listed as one of the neighborhoods within the City of Los Angeles that follows the City of Los Angeles Home-Sharing Ordinance. Unlike unincorporated areas or other jurisdictions, Westwood operates under the full City of Los Angeles regulatory framework, which requires registration, imposes annual caps, and mandates primary residence compliance.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Westwood?

Westwood hosts earn a median $54,117/year with $250 ADR and 86% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $77,474+ per year.

See the full Westwood market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Westwood

Step 1: Determine Eligibility

Primary Residence Requirement: Your property must be your primary residence, defined as where you reside for more than 6 months per calendar year
Property Type Verification: Confirm your address falls within City of Los Angeles boundaries using ZIMAS
Exclusion Check: Properties subject to Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), affordable housing covenants, or income restrictions are ineligible

Step 2: Registration Process

Obtain Home-Sharing Permit: Apply through the Los Angeles Planning Department online portal
Provide Required Documentation: Submit identification and proof of primary residence
Pay Registration Fee: Currently proposed at $89 per year
Receive Registration Number: Required for all advertising platforms

Step 3: Ongoing Compliance

Annual Renewal: Registration must be renewed yearly with updated documentation
Guest Limitations: Maximum 2 persons per habitable room (excluding children)
Operating Hours: No amplified music after 10 PM
Capacity Limits: No gatherings over 8 people (excluding children)

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Home-Sharing Registration Requirements

Photo Identification: Valid federal or state-issued ID (driver's license, state ID, passport)
Primary Residence Documentation (2 required unless ID address matches listing):
- Current valid California voter's registration card or status
- Current valid California vehicle registration
- Recent health insurance bill
- Recent vehicle insurance bill
- Paycheck or pay stub from last 6 months
- Current property tax bill with homeowner's exemption
- Current rental/lease agreement with property manager/landlord contact information

Additional Requirements for Renters

Landlord Authorization Affidavit: Must be notarized and include names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails for both tenant and property owner/landlord
Building Opt-Out Check: Landlords may proactively opt buildings out of home-sharing

Tax Requirements

Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT): 14% on listing price including cleaning fees for stays ≤30 nights
Registration: Complete Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate with Office of Finance
Monthly Returns: File monthly TOT returns to Office of Finance

Safety Requirements

Fire Safety Equipment: Provide and maintain fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors
Emergency Information: Post emergency exit routes and emergency contact information
Smoking Restrictions: Post no-smoking notices on patios/decks in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones

Specific Regulations

City of Los Angeles Home-Sharing Ordinance

Primary Provisions:

Annual Cap: Maximum 120 days of STR activity per calendar year
Extended Home-Sharing: Possible up to 240 days through administrative or discretionary approval
Single Property Limit: Maximum one STR registration per host in Los Angeles
No Concurrent Bookings: Cannot rent to multiple guest sets simultaneously
Advertising Requirements: Must include registration number in all advertisements

Prohibited Activities:

Home-sharing in Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) units
Subletting without proper authorization
Exceeding annual day limits without proper permits
Hosting in non-residential areas of property (vehicles, storage sheds, trailers, tents)

Los Angeles County Regulations

Transient Occupancy Tax for Unincorporated Areas:

County TOT applies to unincorporated areas within Los Angeles County
Definition: Transient use = guest stays of 30 days or less
Note: Airbnb does not collect County TOT; hosts must remit directly

State of California Requirements

General Requirements:

Business license and tax registration at state level
Compliance with California Health and Safety Code
Adherence to local zoning and building codes
Fair housing law compliance
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) considerations

Enforcement and Penalties

Verified Citations and Penalties

First Violation: Extended home-sharing privilege revoked; return to 120-day limit
Two Violations: Registration revoked; prohibited from participating for one year
Loud and Unruly Gathering: 30-day suspension from home-sharing
Operating Without Registration: $1,000 per day fine

Platform Penalties

Illegal Booking: $1,000 per day for hosting illegal listings
Information Refusal: $1,000 per day for refusing address information
Document Refusal: $1,000 per day for refusing monthly reporting documents

Contact Information for Local Authorities

Los Angeles City Planning Department

Email: planning.home-sharing@lacity.org
Phone: (213) 202-5464
Website: planning.lacity.gov

Technical Support

Email: support+los-angeles-ca@hostcompliance.com
Registration Portal: secure.hostcompliance.com/los-angeles-ca/permit-registration/welcome

Los Angeles Office of Finance

Website: finance.lacity.org
TOT Requirements: Visit their website for current TOT filing procedures

Housing + Community Investment Department (HCIDLA)

Phone: (866) 557-7368
Purpose: RSO verification and affordable housing covenant questions

Los Angeles County Treasurer-Tax Collector

Website: ttc.lacounty.gov/tot
Purpose: County TOT information for unincorporated areas

Source Links

Investment Considerations for Westwood Market

Market Dynamics

Westwood represents a premium Westside neighborhood with high tourist and business traveler demand
Proximity to UCLA creates opportunities for academic conference and visiting scholar accommodation
Westwood Village and nearby Century City business district provide additional demand drivers

Regulatory Compliance Costs

Initial registration: ~$89 annually
Extended home-sharing application: $1,149 administrative or $5,660 discretionary
Per-night fee: $5 (estimated)
TOT: 14% of gross rental income

Risk Factors

Strict primary residence requirement limits investment property opportunities
Annual cap of 120 days (240 days with extended permit) restricts revenue potential
High enforcement activity in Los Angeles creates compliance risks
Neighbor complaints can result in citations and permit revocation

This comprehensive regulatory framework requires careful attention to compliance and may limit traditional investment property models, but provides legal pathways for primary residence owners to generate supplemental income through short-term rentals.

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Ask the AI Advisor about Westwood

Westwood is a small mountain community nestled in Lassen County in northeastern California, with a population of approximately 1,600 residents. Tucked into the forested terrain of the Sierra Nevada at an elevation near 5,000 feet, the town has the feel of a quiet rural outpost surrounded by pine forests, volcanic ridges, and wide-open high country. Westwood is best known as a northern gateway to Lassen Volcanic National Park and the broader outdoor recreation scene of the Lassen National Forest, and it sits roughly 180 miles northeast of Sacramento and about 150 miles northwest of Reno, Nevada, with both cities reached by scenic drives through the mountains.

Just south of town, Lassen Volcanic National Park anchors the region as its marquee attraction, drawing visitors with steaming hydrothermal areas, jagged volcanic peaks, alpine lakes, and more than 150 miles of hiking trails. The drive from Westwood to the park's northern entrance near Manzanita Lake is roughly 30 to 40 minutes, making the town a practical base for travelers who want to explore the park's main highlights, including the trail to the summit of Lassen Peak and the dramatic Bumpass Hell basin.

A short drive to the west lies Lake Almanor, a large blue reservoir popular for fishing, kayaking, sailing, and lakeside camping. The drive to its southern arms from Westwood takes under an hour, and the lake is a particular draw in summer when visitors come for trout fishing, paddleboarding, and family-friendly beaches along its wooded shoreline. The surrounding community of Chester, at the north end of the lake, offers small-town amenities and serves as an alternative entry point to Lassen Volcanic National Park.

To the east, the county seat of Susanville is about 30 miles away and provides a more complete set of services, including the Bizz Johnson Trail, a well-known rail-trail that follows the route of a former railroad through the Susan River canyon. The trailhead is just outside the city and offers walkers, joggers, and mountain bikers a gently graded path through a deep, scenic gorge. The wider region also includes Eagle Lake to the north of Susanville, a large alkaline lake prized for trout fishing and bird watching.

For short-term rental investors, Westwood offers a compelling combination of small-town character and direct access to some of Northern California's most distinctive natural attractions. Its position as a quiet, affordable base near Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lake Almanor, and a network of forest trails gives it year-round appeal, with summer hiking and lake activities balanced by winter snows that transform the area into a destination for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and peaceful off-season escapes.